The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-02-09
Death OF Judge LawtOn.

The sudden death of Judge Lawton, which
occurred in the Michigan Central depot at
Lawton on Monday morning last, was a
great shock to the community. He had gone
TO the depot to take the early train to Paw
Paw to attend to some legal matters and.
while sitting in the depot waiting for the
train, engaged in looking over his mail and
conversing with Mr.. Monroe, register of
deeds, he fell back and suddenly expired.
Judge Lawton had long been citizen Of
this county, having come here from Auburn,
New York, in 1861, and entered upon the
| practice of law at Lawton. When the 4th
Michigan cavalry was raised, Mr.. Lawton
war among the first TO enlist, entering The
service as a second Lieutenant in that regi-
ment. He participated i'll all the important
battles i'll which the army OF the Cumberland,
to which his regiment belonged, was engaged.
Among them were the battles of Stone River,
Chickamauga, Chattanooga and the march
through Georgia, when he was finally severe
| ly wounded, near Atlanta, by mimic ball
| through the chest. For meritorious services
in the field, he was successivey promoted to
captain and To major. When sufficiently
recovered, he returned to the service and was
assigned to duty at Nashville, whers he re-
mained until the close of the war.
1t was the boys in Co. "C"-the men
whom Judge Lawton enlisted and with whom
| he shared the privations and dangers of the
camp, the long marches and the field of battle
who captured jeff Davis, though, thanks TO
q rebel bullet, he was not with them at the
time the capture was made.
At the close of the war, Mr.. Lawtorr re-
| turned to his home in Lawton and resumed
the practice of law. He has ever been prom
inenty identified with all public measures
for the benefit of the county and OF the
immediate community III which he resided.
He was ever found on the moral side of
every important question, and In his practice
truth and justice ever found defender. If
there was any one class, more than anoth-
or, to which his heart went out in the strong
est feeling of love and gratitude, 1t was To
the old soldiers. No man could feel, in this
respect, more strongly than he did.
Judge Lawton was born in Oneida County,
New York, October 14th, 1888. He gradu-
ated at Union College, Schenectady, N. Y,
and studied law in the Albany Law School,
then coming to this county, where be began
his practice. He wss thorough scholar, an
indefatigable student and an accomplished
lawyer. He was the author of number of
historical works, which have given him "a
reputation in literary circles, having been
made member of the American Historical
Society, etc. He was also a member of the
Loyal Legion of America, of the Grand Army
Of the Republic, aud OF the Masonic frater-
nifty.
He has served the people of the county ir
n number OF Offices among which was
Judge of probate for eight years, and had
recently been prominently mentioned for the
office of circuit judge to succeed Judge Mills.
In his death, the county loses valued citis
zen the bar one of its most learned members
and the old soldiers one of their honored and
: loving comrades.
Ii is probable that the remote cause of his
death was the wound he received in the war.
The ball, weighing one and one half ounces,
entered in front and was cut out of his back,
but not until some time had elapsed, not
until he had been removed from the army
| front in Georgia TO Nashville, Tennessee. In
) the meantime, the wound had greatly inflamed.
, That he recovered was pronounced by physi-
! clans remarkable fact. The ball had passed
D through the plexus of nerves in front of the
( shoulder and had caused a great shock To
0 the system, which finally resulted in his
death. He was man of excellent habits,
careful of his health and, except from his old
: wound, in the enjoyment of good health.
: Politically, the judge was a strong republi-
: can, and has long been regarded as one OF
r the trusted leaders of his party. No man in
2 the county could be more missed than he,
nor leave a larger circle of sorrowing friends
! His bereaved family will have the sincere and
heartfelt sympathy of the entire community.